Source: Li Chao, Research Center for Ultrasonics and Technologies, Institute of Acoustics

Invited by Prof. Xiuming Wang, Director of the Research Center for Ultrasonics and Technologies in IACAS and Director of Beijing Engineering Research Center for Deep Drilling Exploration, Prof. Amos Nur from Stanford University in U.S.A., visited IACAS and gave a presentation titled as “Rock Properties while Monitoring Non-Equilibrium Rock-Fluid Interactions” on November 2, 2017.

More than 80 staff and graduate students attended his talk. Prof. Xiaochuan Ma, Deputy Director of IACAS held the meeting. Before that, Prof. Nur visited the IACAS exhibition hall, accompanied by Prof Ma, and Prof. Wang, and other officers of our institute.

During the meeting, Professor Nur introduced the application of new digital core technologies in rock physics. With several 3-D numerical simulation animations, Professor Nur demonstrated the displacement process of fluid (CO2, water or oil) in the micron scale of the carbonate. The changes in porosity, permeability, velocity and other characteristics caused by chemical and mechanical interaction between rock and fluid were also showed.

Professor Nur pointed out that with the numerical simulation of rock-fluid interaction and the analysis of lithology changes, new methods for enhancing oil recovery in oilfields is expected to be sought in the future, which has broad application prospects and economic value.

In the Q&A session, Professor Nur answered questions about his research asked by the audience. He then discussed the possible cooperation between the two sides in the future with IACAS.

Amos Nur is a professor at the Department of Geophysics in Stanford University, and recognized as one of the most authoritative experts in rock physics. After graduated from MIT in 1969 with a Ph.D. in geophysics, he served in the Department of Geophysics at Stanford University since 1970 and became a professor in 1979. In 1977, he founded the research group of Rock Physics and Borehole Geophysics, and led the research of rock physics at Stanford University been internationally recognized for a long time. In 2001, he was elected as member of the National Academy of Engineering of USA. Professor Nur's research interests involve in a wide range of topics including rock physics, tectonic crustal physics, fossil energy exploration and seismic archeology. Professor Nur has long been concerned about and supported the development of geophysics in China. He has visited China many times since 1975, with giving academic lectures and instructions to students at universities and research institutes in China.